Sunday in Two Stanzas: Two-Allegretto

Steve and I headed back to the house and chores after we listened to the sermon on the mount. We stopped for a short chat with Mark and Ryan S coming down Hansell Road, while Jon hung out at the Lower Place for the rest of the afternoon. He brought back dozens of photos of elk and deer. He's not exactly sure why there were so many, but the videos were amazing! Especially when they did  their run to wherever dashes. Crazy animals! 

He did hear shots and saw a sturdy sort of dog chasing deer around. He wasn't able to find where it was, though. 

Deer and elk in the same areas.

This is a wash that has gotten much deeper and wider over the winter. Probably during the Feb flooding. He took pictures of water, too. Soothing scenes as it bubbled over and around the rocks.

Jon decided these look like funny llama.

I love this one. Deer on the horizon at sunset!

I'm not sure if this is this is the doe Jon took a video of. This one has gorgeous ears! The coat is the untidy winter wear, but soon they will look lovely. We hope there are enough males left to help maintain the species. Although deer hunting in this area is still open, Jon has found several dead bucks and the guys aren't going up this fall. The one he recorded was walking towards him, trying to identify the camo creature with the camera. So very cute!!!

It was a beautiful day, I'm glad Jon suggested going up. Ending this segment with  song, too! (this is stunning, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!)

                                                                   

The gift of food-

This is perhaps one of my favorite Christmas scenes from this year. Jon had a box of crackers when he was at the computer and stuck them on the shelf overhead. Each time I looked at the holy family next to a box of Cheez-Its with a football, I laughed. 

I decided to make tree shaped biscuits for Christmas dinner instead of rolls. I was a bit skeptical cuz they looked more like arrowheads than trees. Thankfully, they were yummy no matter what they resembled! 

After Christmas, I wanted to use the air fryer to make egg rolls. These things are so easy and incredibly messy. I finally discovered the absolute best way to make good circles. I fry one side in a non stick pot and flip it into the large non stick frying pan. (this was the first one, it was not as well shaped as the rest!) 

 When I was done cooking the sugarless crepes, I fried up the coleslaw/chicken/soy sauce mix in the big pan. From there, I wrapped the mix inside the pancake and glued them shut with paper mache paste (thick mix of flour and water).I did coat the outside with butter before folding them up, I think I'll use a more oil based oil next time.

 They aren't as large as the ones I've made before. They needed to fit inside the fryer! They also were not very uniform in circumference.

 Only one 'popped' open a smidge while they were cooking. I think, next time, I'll make the bread part a tad thinner and add the aforementioned oil as a coating. They didn't 'fry' because it used hot air. Nonetheless, it was a successful experiment.

An air fryer is an absolute wonderful kitchen item to have! I am so glad the guys got me one for Christmas and I'm incredibly glad there was a spot in my kitchen that seemed made for it! Jon says it looks like a professional hair dryer, I wonder if I should call it Frenchy? 

(from youtube)

Celebration for Nancy Egbert

It has been a week since mom's memorial service. A great deal has happened, but I wanted to share our celebration with friends and family via the internet. It was a celebration. Mum asked for certain things and they managed to all fall into place. We had the service at the Nikiski Rec Center  (the old elementary school in the library). I think it would have been a good idea if I had asked to have it put on their reader board or community calendar, but I think it turned out well.. It started out POURING, but by late morning it started to clear. Her service was at 11. 

Meg made wrote a sign for us-I'd forgotten to mark where the service would be. She and Randall helped guide people in.

Setting up was a lot of work. Bailey created the power point and was our emcee, Lee was an incredible help in setting up the AV stuff, chairs, and whatnot. 

 Actually, Janet's entire family was a huge help. Jacit and Jaleen and Janet were all there early and pitched in. I had hoped for a large number of people, but due to circumstances, we had about 111 signed in. 

 Julie and Elaine and Sharon and Traci and Nancy and Tim Veal and Jim were also on hand to organise and get every last thing set up and in place. (Julie brought the beverage stuff) The Rec staff was awesome in every way!

Order of Events: 

Reading of the Obituary

 (written by BJ at Peninsula Memorial Chapel and it can be found on their website)

Welcome and Opening Prayer

(those first things were done by Bailey)

We all sang 'This is My Father's World' 

Lee read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We sang 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'

Kris shared a bit about her mom and read the story by Cece Meng called 'Always Remember' 

Tamara and Bridget and 'not Rhett' (one of the teachers mom worked with and I can't remember his name, other than mom called him Rhett) and Lee and Randall shared thoughts of Nancy.

Lucy read a thought from Mother Teresa 

Meg sang 'My God and I' and brought down the house

Mary did the closing prayer 

We all sang 'Go Ye Now in Peace' 

Rachel played the intro music, the songs for us to sing, and the post music for mom. She and Bailey also found the words and music for 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'. (we only used the first verse)

We let the slide show run before and after the main service.

A bunch of brave souls helped to clean up after it was all over. (I adore the Dura family!!) 

 

  I had gone into Kenai and met Kari who helped unload leftovers for after the church service at mom's church on Sunday- Then, I went over to dad's bench in the Scout Park. Eventually, we''ll add a marker with mom's name and the city will put it on the bench with dad. It had warmed up tremendously and the inlet was calm.

The next day, while we were  opening up cards, we found this incredibly comforting thought in one Kari sent. 

I am sure I missed several who helped, there were so many. Please know mom's community is you. You may or may not have been there in person, but your spirit was there in Nancy's. Thank you so much for being a part of mom's world and ours. 

Angels Among Us

Posts about the driveway are almost at an end. There are still things which need done, but the largest bit has been smoothed over by angels. Three of mom's neighbor's. Boys from across the lake who spent at least 5 hours in two days using rakes, shovels, and clippers to make things beautiful again. I was pretty worn out, then I realised something. I am  more than the age of all 3 of these kids combined!!! 

I'll let the pictures tell their story. 

 Janet was able to find some tires for me. The boys helped to put them around the tiny pipes left by the men who put in the septic and drain field. I need a LOT more orange spray paint and a couple more flagging markers to keep folks from running into them. I'm super impressed with how nice it looks.

The excavation of mom's wood pile  has been interesting. When we get the downed trees cut up and an area set up to chop and store the logs before putting it in her small shanty for wood, then we can scatter the fireweed and wildflower seeds. It will be even more lovely next summer!

 On my walk afterwards, I found two heart rocks. I should have found three. One for each of the amazing angels who worked in our yard. I am truly thankful and blessed by people around us who reach out with hands to help when we don't expect it.

In the pink

 It was a long frustrating stay at Central Peninsula Hospital. Mum is now home and doing well. The lovely bouquet is from the Nikiski Senior Center. It was created and delivered by an old friend. The card suggested mom should 'get the hell out of there!' She did.

 Fading purple fireweed full of bees AND wasps and ready to top soon. It seems a bit early, but the fireweed is a good indicator of what is to come.

Tamara (Filigree and Hues Hair Design) fixed mom up so she wouldn't have to worry about her hair falling out. Mum said she has an Anderson head. (that is from her mom's side of the family-the Norwegian one?) I think she's cute! I am very thankful she is home. Her not so little dog is thankful, too!